Dr. Ann-Christin Hau

Since my early studies, I’ve been captivated by the complexity of the brain and its vulnerability to diseases like cancer. During my PhD at the Edinger Institute of the Goethe University, I initially focused on the transcriptional regulation of adult neurogenesis. This research provided key insights into how neural stem cells differentiate and function, but it was the discovery of the parallels between these processes and the uncontrolled growth in brain tumors that shifted my focus toward neuro-oncology. The similarities in molecular mechanisms between neurogenesis and tumorigenesis, particularly in high-grade gliomas, deepened my interest in understanding how genetic and epigenetic drivers fuel brain cancer.

Following my PhD, I continued this work at the Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology and the Luxembourg Institute of Health, where I gained expertise in personalized medicine and advanced pre-clinical models. Now, as the leader of a research group with an affiliation to the Senckenbergisches Institut für Neuroonkologie and the Edinger Institute, our main focus is developing cellular models that act as patient avatars, designed to closely mimic human biology. This approach aligns with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), aiming to reduce animal use and create more accurate, human-relevant systems. In parallel, I am in my final year of medical school, driven by a desire to directly translate our research into clinical practice. Alongside this, mentoring the next generation of scientists remains a key passion as we continue to push the boundaries of neuro-oncology.